Kenya okays importation of Uganda’s sugarcane
Justification. Farmers harvest sugarcane in Jinja District on April 23. Ugandan farmers say the current millers in the market cannot absorb all their produce, a reason they are opting for Kenya. PHOTO BY TAUSI NAKATO
What you need to know:
- Beneficiary. The cane exportation permit has been issued to Musibi Farmers Limited based in Mayuge District.
- He called for the fast-tracking of the Sugar Bill that was returned to Parliament by President Museveni early this year because it would “address the gaps” in coordination and regulation of the sector.
The Kenyan government has granted permission to Ugandan sugarcane growers to export their produce to Busia Sugar Factory across the border.
Many out growers in Busoga Sub-region have been making losses since the millers in the area could not crash all the cane being produced.
The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), under the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Local Development, has issued a cane exportation permit to Musibi Farmers Limited based in Mayuge District.
The permit was issued on August 21 by Mr Simon Peter Muambi on behalf of KEPHIS.
According to the six-month permit, Kenya has put stringent measures on the Ugandan cane such as being free from pests and diseases.
“The consignment (is) to be inspected on arrival and the importing authority reserves the right to treat, destroy or refuse importation,” the instructions on the permit read in part.
Kenyan authorities also require the exporting company to accompany the consignment with an inspection certificate issued by Uganda’s ministry of Agriculture.
Mr Michael Mugabira, the coordinator of Uganda Sugarcane Growers Association, said the Kenya is willing to import up to 600 tonnes of cane daily for the six months granted on the permit.
Excited farmers
“Our farmers are ready and are also excited by this opportunity. Once our government does its obligation, we will start right away,” Mr Mugabira said on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, government has changed its stance on exportation of cane after learning that the farmers have successfully convinced the Kenyan government to issue them with the permit.
On Tuesday, State minister for Trade Michael Werikhe told Parliament that the government is encouraging farmers, who want to export cane to Kenya, to apply for export permits from KEPHIS and Kenya Sugar Board.
Mr Werikhe also revealed that farmers, who are contracted to local millers or factories, must first fulfill the contractual obligations before supplying the excess cane to Kenya.
He called for the fast-tracking of the Sugar Bill that was returned to Parliament by President Museveni early this year because it would “address the gaps” in coordination and regulation of the sector.
